Overviews of Optimization Techniques for Geometric Estimation

We summarize techniques for optimal geometric estimation from noisy observations for computer vision applications. We first discuss the interpretation of optimality and point out that geometric estimation is different from the standard statistical estimation. We also describe our noise modeling and a theoretical accuracy limit called the KCR lower bound. Then, we formulate estimation techniques based on minimization of a given cost function: least squares (LS), maximum likelihood (ML), which includes reprojection error minimization as a special case, and Sampson error minimization. We describe bundle adjustment and the FNS scheme for numerically solving them and the hyperaccurate correction that improves the accuracy of ML. Next, we formulate estimation techniques not based on minimization of any cost function: iterative reweight, renormalization, and hyper-renormalization. Finally, we show numerical examples to demonstrate that hyper-renormalization has higher accuracy than ML, which has widely been regarded as the most accurate method of all. We conclude that hyper-renormalization is robust to noise and currently is the best method

For Geometric Inference from Images, What Kind of Statistical Model Is Necessary?

In order to facilitate smooth communications with researchers in other fields including statistics, this paper investigates the meaning of "statistical methods" for geometric inference based on image feature points, We point out that statistical analysis does not make sense unless the underlying "statistical ensemble" is clearly defined. We trace back the origin of feature uncertainty to image processing operations for computer vision in general and discuss the implications of asymptotic analysis for performance evaluation in reference to "geometric fitting", "geometric model selection", the "geometric AIC", and the "geometric MDL". Referring to such statistical concepts as "nuisance parameters", the "Neyman-Scott problem", and "semiparametric models", we point out that simulation experiments for performance evaluation will lose meaning without carefully considering the assumptions involved and intended applications

Calibration of Ultra-Wide Fisheye Lens Cameras by Eigenvalue Minimization

We present a new technique for calibrating ultra-wide fisheye lens cameras by imposing the constraint that collinear points be rectified to be collinear, parallel lines to be parallel, and orthogonal lines to be orthogonal. Exploiting the fact that line fitting reduces to an eigenvalue problem, we do a rigorous perturbation analysis to obtain a Levenberg-Marquardt procedure for the optimization. Doing experiments, we point out that spurious solutions exist if collinearity and parallelism alone are imposed. Our technique has many desirable properties. For example, no metric information is required about the reference pattern or the camera position, and separate stripe patterns can be displayed on a video screen to generate a virtual grid, eliminating the grid point extraction processing

Model Selection for Geometric Fitting: Geometric Ale and Geometric MDL

Contrasting "geometric fitting", for which the noise level is taken as the asymptotic variable, with "statistical inference", for which the number of observations is taken as the asymptotic variable, we give a new definition of the "geometric AIC" and the "geometric MDL" as the counterparts of Akaike's AIC and Rissanen's MDL. We discuss various theoretical and practical problems that emerge from our analysis. Finally, we show, doing experiments using synthetic and real images, that the geometric MDL does not necessarily outperform the geometric AIC and that the two criteria have very different characteristics

Uncertainty Modeling and Geometric Inference

We investigate the meaning of "statistical methods" for geometric inference based on image feature points. Tracing back the origin of feature uncertainty to image processing operations, we discuss the implications of asymptotic analysis in reference to "geometric fitting" and "geometric model selection", We point out that a correspondence exists between the standard statistical analysis and the geometric inference problem. We also compare the capability of the "geometric AIC" and the "geometric MDL' in detecting degeneracy. Next, we review recent progress in geometric fitting techniques for linear constraints, describing the "FNS method", the "HEIV method", the "renormalization method", and other related techniques. Finally, we discuss the "Neyman-Scott problem" and "semiparametric models" in relation to geometric inference. We conclude that applications of statistical methods requires careful considerations about the nature of the problem in question

Further improving geometric fitting

We give a formal definition of geometric fitting in a way that suits computer vision applications. We point out that the performance of geometric fitting should be evaluated in the limit of small noise rather than in the limit of a large number of data as recommended in the statistical literature. Taking the KCR lower bound as an optimality requirement and focusing on the linearized constraint case, we compare the accuracy of Kanatani's renormalization with maximum likelihood (ML) approaches including the FNS of Chojnacki et al. and the HEIV of Leedan and Meer. Our analysis reveals the existence of a method superior to all these. </p

Geometric BIC

The author introduced the "geometric AIC" and the "geometric MDL" as model selection criteria for geometric fitting problems. These correspond to Akaike’s "AIC" and Rissanen's "BIC", respectively, well known in the statistical estimation framework. Another criterion well known is Schwarz’ "BIC", but its counterpart for geometric fitting has been unknown. This paper introduces the corresponding criterion, which we call the "geometric BIC", and shows that it is of the same form as the geometric MDL. We present the underlying logical reasoning of Bayesian estimation

Uncertainty modeling and model selection for geometric inference

We first investigate the meaning of &#34;statistical methods&#34; for geometric inference based on image feature points. Tracing back the origin of feature uncertainty to image processing operations, we discuss the implications of asymptotic analysis in reference to &#34;geometric fitting&#34; and &#34;geometric model selection&#34; and point out that a correspondence exists between the standard statistical analysis and the geometric inference problem. Then, we derive the &#34;geometric AIC&#34; and the &#34;geometric MDL&#34; as counterparts of Akaike's AIC and Rissanen's MDL. We show by experiments that the two criteria have contrasting characteristics in detecting degeneracy. </p

Optimality of Maximum Likelihood Estimation for GeometricFitting and the KCR Lower Bound

Geometric fitting is one of the most fundamental problems of computer vision. In [8], the author derived a theoretical accuracy bound (KCR lower bound) for geometric fitting in general and proved that maximum likelihood (ML) estimation is statistically optimal. Recently, Chernov and Lesort [3] proved a similar result, using a weaker assumption. In this paper, we compare their formulation with the author’s and describe the background of the problem. We also review recent topics including semiparametric models and discuss remaining issues

Extracting Moving Objects from a Moving Camera VideoSequence

We present a new method for extracting objects moving independently of the background from a video sequence taken by a moving camera. We first extract and track feature points through the sequence and select the trajectories of background points by exploiting geometric constraints based on the affine camera model. Then, we generate a panoramic image of the background and compare it with the individual frames. We describe our image processing and thresholding techniques